Latest custody cases from Wick Sheriff Court

[Nwicker60]

Jail for accused who threatened pub manager

A MAN who threatened the manageress of a Wick pub, has been jailed for six months.
Alexander Johnston was also banned from J.D. Wetherspoon for two years.
He admitted behaving in an abusive manner toward Katrina Mackenzie and threatening violence, while on bail and an extensive record.
Johnston, of Loch Street, Wick, arrived at the pub shortly after 12.30pm but was advised that he was not welcome and was being refused entry.
Senior fiscal depute, David Barclay, said that the accused became irate and responded with a comment to Ms Mackenzie, along the lines of: “I am going to smash your face in”. The police were informed and Johnston (49) was detained.
Solicitor Jo McDonald referred to the accused’s longstanding problem with alcohol abuse. Up until his latest offence, however, he had been alcohol-free for three months –his longest ever spell of abstinence- while residing in Invergordon and had been making good progress on a rehabilitation programme.
Ms McDonald said, that, prior to the incident, Johnston had received some bad personal news which had had “a devastating effect” on him and he had used alcohol as a crutch.
She continued: “In his own words, he says that he is getting far too old to find himself in this situation.”
Sheriff Andrew Berry said that had the case been a straight-forward one, he might have been able to take a different view but added: “You go to licensed premises and threaten violence to an employee. That cannot be permitted.”
Before being led away, Johnston asked that an earlier case be brought forward and dealt with but the request was refused by the sheriff.
The case came before the court, earlier this year, when Johnston admitted charges of disorderly behaviour. He was said to have abused a family who refused to give him a lift from his then home in Wellington Street, Wick.
The sheriff who was advised of Johnston’s participation in the Ross-shire rehab programme told him that while it might be too late for him to turn his life around he was prepared to give him a chance.
The accused, who had just finished a jail sentence at the time, is due to reappear in court to be sentenced for the Wellington Street offence, on September 30.

Remanded-man with scant regard for bail rules

Michael Kerry described by the sheriff as a man with “scant regard” for bail conditions, was remanded in custody pending reports.
Kerry, of Kennedy Terrace, Wick, was granted bail on August 19, but breached a condition of it, banning him from entering a house in Bon Accord Street and or contacting Angela Longstaff.
It was stated that the accused arrived at the house with a friend. They were both under the influence of drink.
Mr Barclay said that Ms Longstaff had been advised of the bail ban but didn’t appear to understand what it meant and didn’t pay too much attention to Kerry. His presence “didn’t appear to bother her”.
However, Ms Longstaff had mention the accused’s arrival to her daughter on the telephone, and she contacted the police who arrested Kerry.
Solicitor Jo McDonald explained that the accused had received a phone call from Ms Longstaff and he immediately told her he could not visit her. Kerry went to his bail address but couldn’t get in so he decided to go to Ms Longstaff’s home to collect some of his belongings
“He thought he could do that and let himself in with his own key” said Ms Mcdonald who added: “He knows he should not have been there and had tried to resist going. He appears to have taken a gamble which backfired.”
Kerry will reappear for sentence on September 2.
The friend who accompanied Kerry to the Bon Accord Street house was Norman McMillan who had also breached his bail condition, on the same day, August 19. He had been ordered by the sheriff to not to enter Caithness unless it was to attend court.
McMillan of Macdonald Avenue, Lossiemouth, admitted the breach. When police were investigating Kerry's bail breach at Ms Longstaff's home, they encountered McMillan and his offence came to light.
"There is a sense of deja vous here," said Mr Barclay.
Solicitor Ms McDonald said that McMillan had wandered about after appearing in court, trying to find a bus station. When he did there wasn't a bus to take him out of the county
Ms McDonald said: "He came upon Mr Kerry who had also been been before the court. They had never met before and they had a drink together. Mr Macmillan decided he would rise early the next day. He did not appear to be out of the county immediately."
Sheriff Berry said he had been tempted to describe the two scenarios as "a comedy of errors" but added it was certainly not that.
The sheriff added: "You meet up with a person who takes you to an address he had no right to be in and you don't have time to leave the county which was spelled out to you. He takes you to an address where you have no right to be. This is a flagrant failure to comply with a court order...nothing could be plainer."
McMillan, who was also on bail from Aberdeen Sheriff Court, was jailed for four months.